Sejours Au Pair en France - Au Pair in France

To become an applicant

You must be over 18 (no more than 27 years old) and have learned French for 2 to 3 years minimum. If you've never studied French, we will not be able to accept your application.

You must have some childcare experience (babysitting, camp counseling, kinder-garden internship...) and possibly childcare related or first aid diploma. You also should have completed high school and be in good health.

A driver's license is a plus. If you are used to automatic cars, think twice before agreeing to drive for your host family as 99% of French cars use stick-shifts. Or take driving lessons before your arrival!

In most families, some light house-cleaning will be the responsibility of the Au Pair. If you've never helped to do housework, ask yourself if you are ready for this commitment.

Au Pairs from outside the European Union need a Visa to allow them to work. Please, contact the nearest French Consulate/Embassy to be sure you are eligible (you need to be a student in the current year and have studied French in school). Then, you wait for a family placement to apply for your visa.

The Au Pair Concept

An "Au Pair" placement in an agreement between a young woman (or man) and a host family. She is integrated for a definite period of time in her host family and will take care of their children.

This stay in France allows the Au Pair to improve her language skills and become fluent in French after a long term stay. She discovers a different culture, quickly makes new friends and builds lifetime memories!

Application Process

Location: You cannot chose your location BUT we mainly place in the South. Not all families live in Nice or Cannes so don't turn down an offer from a family who lives in the surrounding small towns. It might be the right one for you! Our families are aware of the distance problems and try to help you in this matter.

Host family: Once your application is completed and accepted, you will receive a phone call from your potential family. Try not to be shy about your oral French: a sentence with grammar mistakes is better than nothing at all! Try to relax and talk about the family's expectations, the children, the environment... If you get along with the family and you both agree on the placement, you can decide on your arrival date. If not, we'll propose you to other families until we find a match.

Insurance: For a long term stay, French families have to declare you and it will ensure your social security. For a short term stay, be sure to have an international medical insurance. In any case, we always advise you to have a personal insurance.

Travel: You are to pay for your travel expenses. If you are applying for a short term placement, we advise you to buy a return ticket. Be sure to know which airport is the closest to your family's home. The same apply if you are coming by train or bus.

Languages classes: You will certainly have the possibility to follow French classes in a private school. The school fees are at your charge. Please note that schools are often closed during the summer. Once you arrive, our agency will provide you with suitable school addresses.

The Au Pair job

Be flexible, because your work hours can be scheduled differently according to the family or the day of the week.

Children will be the main share of your time. You must enjoy being with children, learn to be patient and responsible. You will have (according to their age) to take them to school, pick them up, prepare their meals, play with them, supervise their homework, give them bath and bottle... The family will ask you to help with the housework. The parents can expect you to help preparing meals, keep your room and the children's rooms in order... Most tasks will be related to the children. Some families will ask you to vacuum once a week and tidy up the house or help with the ironing. The housework is of course to be done within your working hours. If you expect to be treated as a full-fledged family member, consider yourself as the big sister who shares the housework and helps her parents.

Everyday life in France does not exactly follow a slow rhythm and Au Pairs, especially coming from the North of Europe, can find this quite disturbing.

In a typical French family, both parents work, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 or 7:00 PM, therefore they have little time to care for their children or do the housework. Some jobs also require to work on week-ends, as shops and restaurants tend more and more to be open on Sundays. The South of France is a region appreciated by tourists (France is the first travel destination in the world!) and the period from May to September can be very hectic in families running businesses relying on tourism.

Of course, we request from our host families that they welcome you as member of their family. In counterpart, you have to respect your commitment. Don't forget you are being paid to work and bring an efficient help.

Working Hours and Pocket Money

Au Pair - 30 hours (5-6h a day) = 75 EURO / week
Au Pair Plus - 35 hours = 95 EURO / week

Rights and rules

You will receive free board and room (personal bedroom - but exceptional situation, if you follow the family on vacation e.g. ...)

You will generally receive your pocket money each week. You are entitled to 1 day-off during the week and hours of free time during the day. You will probably be off on Sunday. You will also benefit from 1 week of paid vacation 6 months within your long term stay. Of course, if your family agrees, you can take more days off (without pay).

Female visitors are usually accepted within your family but you always have to ask permission first. Male company is generally not permitted. Try to respect your host family's private life.

You are free to occupy your free time as you wish and going out at night won't be a problem unless your work the day after feels the effects of it. Be reasonable, childcare requires your full attention .

Please, ask your family before making long distance phone calls. Many families have a detailed phone bill and can ask you to pay for your calls at the end of the month. Also, ask permission before giving the home number to strangers. You can also buy cards used in public phones. It's an easy way to monitor your phone expenses!

The family doesn't have to lend you a car for your personal use. If the parents give you the keys to their car, they will expect you to pay for your gas and to avoid drinking while driving.

Please respect the family's wish if they ask you not to smoke at home and especially in front of the children. Being a non-smoker is a plus for your placement.

Avoiding problems

If problems were to arise, we advise you to talk to the family first and try to solve them. If this leads you nowhere, you can contact your us. We ask both sides to respect a 15 days notice in case the family cannot keep you or you want to leave them.

A rematch is possible if the quality of your work and your seriousness are not questioned. If you leave the family without notice, a deduction can be made on your due pocket money.

Your stay will be successful if you are able to adapt to your host family's lifestyle. Keep in mind that it was your own choice to share the life of a French family and you should be flexible and follow the living patterns of your family. Don't always criticize food, habits, education... Think positive and respect this new culture!

Most Au Pairs come to France, and especially to the French Riviera, with many clichés of a beautiful, sunny, fun place to live in mind. To a certain extend, it is the simple truth. But life is no fairytale and reality may not be as wonderful as it seems. Nowadays, insecurity has become a problem people deal with on a daily basis. Precautions that are obvious to French inhabitants may seem unnecessary to foreigners.

Here are a few tips girls should take in account when living in France, especially in big cities like Nice:
- No hitchhiking! Keep an eye (or a hand) on your bag.
- Don't walk the streets and don't take the bus or the train alone late at night.
- Drink reasonably and don't drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs...

Insecurity cannot be ignored and, remember: better safe than sorry!!

Au Pair in France - Au Pair en France

Enjoy your stay

- Take more language classes and get more childcare experience before leaving so you'll feel more confident once in the country.

- Save some money for your personal expenses and think of bringing a international credit card (Visa) with you if possible.

- Get some information about your placement location. You can ask the consulates or travel agencies for more details... Don't forget to buy a travel guide as well!!

- You could bring a little present to your host family, especially for the children, representing your region: food specialties, book, local toys... It will help you create a good contact with them right from the start!

- Don't get bored! We'll give you other Au Pairs phone numbers and you can go to the library, the local gym club or other cultural centers. Your stay will be more enjoyable if you make friends quickly!

- Show interest for the children you are taking care of and for your family's lifestyle, they'll be glad to share their activities with you!

MORE ABOUT NICE HERE:
. So Nice Côte d'Azur...
. Le Pitchoun: Nice Practical Guide
. Map of Nice

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ASSOCIATION FAMILLES & JEUNESSE
4, rue Masséna - 06000 NICE
Tél: 04 93 822 822 - Fax: 04 93 881 286

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